Cafe owner's note to gay couple draws international attention

Sunday

Jan 13, 2013 at 6:00 AM

The note said the couple's lifestyle was hurting everyone and said that God opposes homosexuality

By Byron HollandSun Journal of New Bern

NEW BERN | Controversy over a note the owner of the Stingray Café on South Front Street in New Bern gave a lesbian couple as they left his restaurant recently has stirred a lot of angry comments. Ed McGovern's note said the couple's lifestyle was hurting everyone and said that God opposes homosexuality. He handed the note to Arielle and Shawnee McPhail after they finished and paid for their meal and were leaving.McGovern said Friday he was not doing any more interviews.“I'm just letting this thing roll,” McGovern said. “It's just getting out of hand anyway.”Although McGovern did not wish to comment on the incident, he said it was not hurting his business and he was getting a lot of support.The note McGovern wrote on notebook paper and handed to the McPhails said in part, according to WITN news, “…Please look at your life. See how it hurt(s) everyone around you. And ask the Lord to open your eyes before it (is) to(o) late. … The Love of Christ.“P.S. my daughter also was gay. It destroy(ed) her life and my grandson.”According to an interview the McPhails gave to WITN news, McGovern took offense when he saw them on the sidewalk outside his restaurant kissing. But the McPhails denied kissing, saying they were holding hands.Repeated calls to Shawnee McPhail were not immediately returned. Arielle McPhail could not be reached.People from California to New York are condemning McGovern's actions on the internet and some are asking for a boycott of the restaurant. By Friday, the Yelp review website exploded with angry responses. Even the Stingray Café website had more than a dozen angry comments.But there were some comments supporting McGovern's right to free speech.The Sun Journal received a telephone call Friday afternoon from a woman, who only left her first name, who said her family usually has a reunion at the Stingray Café but since the letter incident they would not be returning.“This is a black eye on the wonderful town of New Bern,” she said.The woman said she saw the story on the Huffington Post website. Between Huffington Post and other websites, the incident has provoked comments numbering in the hundreds, and counting.Other posts on the Stingray Café website included many comments from the gay and lesbian community, and one from a business owner: “Religion is personal. Business is public. Check your personal beliefs and problems at the door....”A comment supporting McGroven's actions by “Sara” said, “I am glad that you took a stand. … I don't even care for seafood, but hopefully soon will visit your restaurant. I pray God will bless you for doing what is right according to the Bible. Thank you!”